Outlet receptacle switch



y 1940- E. J. ZELT 2,201,875

OUTLET RECEPI'ACLE SWITCH Filed June 1, '1938 Inventor: Elmer J. Zelt,

Hi Attorney.

Patented May 21. 1940 UNITED STATES OUTLET QRECEPTACLE swrrcn Elmer J. Zelt, Fort Wayne, ma, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 1, 1938, Serial No. 211,156

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a convenience outlet or outlet receptacle in which a switch mechanism is provided for controlling an auxiliary electrical circuit other. than that connected to the convenience outlet.

An object of the invention is in the provision of switch means applied to a convenience outlet so that as a plug cap is inserted into the outlet receptacle the switch will be operated to control m an auxiliary circuit electrically connected to the switch means.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of, a convenience outlet incorporating an auxiliary switch means; Fig. 2 is a modified form of the invention illustrating a modification of the switch, structure; Fig. 3 is an end view partially in section of the device of Fig. 1,

and Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the outlet receptacle contacts and switch-ope: .ting means.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a convenience outlet is shown at ill which in the form of the invention illustrated comprises a duplex receptacle. The conv'enience outlet is provided with the customary terminal screws II and is formed with a plurality of recesses l2 housing the receptacle contacts l3. The recesses l2 are open in front for the reception-of a plug cap ,Jwhile the rear of the recesses are closed by a plate l5 which may be formed of fibrous insulating material. In addition, the plate maintains the receptacle contacts i3 within the recesses in a manner well known in the art. The convenience outlet is provided with a mounting strap i5 which passes around the closure plate l5 as shown by Fig. 1 and maintains the plate and contact elements in assembled position. The structure thus-tar described comprises-a convenience outlet of the type customarily employed in house wiring.

It is sometimes advantageous to employ an auxiliary circuit in connection with the wiring circuit of the convenience outlet to indicate whether or not the receptacle is being used or, in some cases, to control a source of current to the convenience outlet. a switch means, which is operated by the insertion of aplug cap. into the receptacle, is applied to the convenience outlet. By connecting the switch in the auxiliary circuit this structure constitutes a simple and reliable method of obtaining the results indicated above.

In the form of the invention shown by Figs; 1, 3 and 4 an insulating mounting plate I8 is placedat the rear of the convenience outlet'over- .lyingthe mounting strap and closure plate and According to the invention is disposed substantially in axial alinement with m the contact l3. I

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, one end of the pin l9 cooperates with a switch means which in the form illustrated comprises a movable spring contact blade 20 having a contact 2| which engages a corresponding contact 22 mounted on a relatively stationary switch blade 23. The spring switch blade 20 is of suflicient strength normally to maintain the operating pin l9 completely within the opening l8 in convenience outlet so that'the contacts 2| and 22 are separated and the switch means is normally in open position. In the normal position just described the end of the pin l9 rests within an opening 24 formed in a bent portion of the contact blade [3 and abuts a side of the blade I! formed by the opening 24. This arrangement prevents the pin from being forced onto! the convenience outlet I by the spring blade 20 and maintains the pin within the opening it under all positions of the convenience outlet so that it is impossible for the pin to drop out of the convenience outlet.

As shownmore particularly in Fig. 3 the pin i9 is adapted to be actuated by a plug prong 25 forming part of the plug cap II. It will be apparent that as the plug. cap is inserted within the convenience outlet the prong 25 will engage. and be guided by the receptacle contact i3 and moving axially thereof will make contact with the actuating pin is and move it to a switchoperating position such as shown in Fig. 3. The length of the contact pin I 9 is so proportioned in relation to the standard length of the plug prong 25 that a firm contact pressure is maintained between the contacts 21' and 22 as the switch is closed the contact blade 23 being flexed slightly in closed position.

According to the form of the invention illustrated a separate switch means and switchoperating mechanism is located in the rear of each of the receptacle outlets of the duplex convenience outlet. While such .a structure has been illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it will be apparent that the switch means might be equally as well adapted for application to a single convenience outlet, only.

In the form of the invention shown by Fig. 1 the movable switch blades 20 are interconnected by a jumper strip 26 which is secured to the base by means of a screw 21 which also serves the purpose of retaining a terminal lug 28 on the base in electrical connection with the switch blades. The flexible blades 20 are seated within grooves 23 formed in the base plate l6 and are fastened to the plate by means of screws 30. The switch blades 23 extend to a common terminal point where they are secured to the base by means of a screw 3|. A terminal element 32 is likewise secured to the base by the screw 3| to provide an electrical connection to the spring blades 23. In order to space the contact 22 from the contact 2| the switch contact blades 23 are mounted upon a projection 33 upstanding from the base of the mounting plate. It will be apparent from this construction that the terminal elements 28 and 32 serve for electrical connection to either of the two switch means, and thus it is unnecessary to provide separate terminal members for the respective switch structures.

One use of the invention is with a signal lamp to indicate whenever the convenience outlet is being used. In such cases the terminal elements 23 and 32 may be connected in series with a current source and an indicating lamp, so that as a plug cap is inserted in either one of the outlet receptacles the corresponding switch is operated to control the current to the indicating lamp.

In another use of the invention the switch means may be used for controlling the supply of current to the receptacle contacts [3. In such cases the switch terminal elements 28 and 32 would be connected to control a source of current supply which, in turn, would be connected with the terminal screws ii of the convenience outlet so that as the plug cap is inserted within the convenience outlet the switch means would be.

closed to cause energization of the receptacle contacts l3. Inasmuch as the pin [9 is formed of insulating material, there is no electrical interconnection between the switch means and the contact blade l3. The form of the invention shown by Fig. 2 is similar to that shown by Fig. 1 with various modifications in the switch structure. The duplex convenience outlet 40 is of substantially the same form as that shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with terminal screws 4| and a mounting strap 42. The plate 43 is mounted on the rear of the convenience outlet by means oi. a bolt 44 and is adapted to provide a mounting surface for a switch means.

The switch means is operated in the manner aforementioned employing the structure shown by Fig. 3. It constitutes the movable switch blades 45 having the contacts 46 cooperating with the opposed contacts 41 mounted on the contact blades 48. The movable spring contact blades 45 are bent at an angle and are secured to the end of the mounting plate 43 by means of screws 49. Heavy metal caps 50 overlie the bent-over portions of the contact blade and aid in maintaining the blades rigidly mounted upon the mounting plate. A jumper 5| interconnects the two contact blades 45 and a terminal element 52 is connected to one of the mounting screws 49 to provide a terminal for the contacts 46.

Each of the relatively fixed contact blades 48 is mounted upon a lug 53 upstanding from the base of the mounting plate, so that the contact 41 is spaced from the contact 46 in normal position. The ends of the contact blades are bent at right angles and are held against the end of the mounting plate by means of the heavy metal caps 54 overlying the bent-over portions of the contact blades. The caps and blades are secured to the base by means of screws 55, and a jumper 56 electrically interconnects the contact blades, while the terminal element 51 provides a means of electrical connection to the contacts 41.

The convenience outlet shown by Fig. 2 has all the advantages above enumerated in connection with the form of the invention shown by Fig. 1 and, in addition, employs the caps 50 and 54 which aid in securing the contact blades to the base and provide a rugged construction.

In both forms of the invention the switch means is of simple construction yet positive in action. No separate operating means for the switch is necessary because the insertion of a plug cap into the receptacle serves to operate the switch mechanism. No great change is required in the standard convenience outlet because the switch mechanism and support is readily secured to the back of a convenience outlet.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts therein, contact means mounted on said body having a movable operating member and an operating element adjacent said receptacle contacts and cooperating with said movable member, said operating element being engaged by the prongs of a plugcap inserted in said convenience outlet for operation of said contact means.

2. In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts, contact means mounted on said body having a movable operating member and an axially movable pin in alinement with said receptacle contacts and cooperating with said movable member, said pin being engaged by the end of one of the prongs of a plug cap inserted in said convenience outlet for operation of said contact means.

3. In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts, a pin of insulating material slidably disposed in said body in substantially axial alinement with one of said contacts, and contact means mounted on said body having a movable member cooperating with said pin, said pin being engaged by a prong of a plug cap inserted in said receptacle contacts and being axially movable by said cap for operation of said movable contact member.

4. In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts, a plate of insulating material mounted on the base of said body, contact means including a flexible blade member mounted on said plate and a pin slidably mounted in said plate, one end of said pin engaging said flexible blade member and the other end of said pin extending into said convenience outlet to a point adjacent one of said receptacle contacts and in axial alinement therewith.

5. In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts, a plate of insulating material mounted onthe base of said body, contact'means including a flexible blade member mounted on said plate and a pin slidably mounted in said plate, one end of said pin engaging said flexible blade member and the other end of said pin extending into said convenience outlet to a point adjacent one of said receptacle contacts and in axial alinement therewith, said one contact being provided with an opening to receive said other end of the pin to retain the pin within said convenience outlet.

. ceptacie contacts, elements movably mounted in 6. In combination, a body comprising'a duplex convenience outlet receptacle having pairs of resaid body, one disposed adjacent each pair of receptacle contacts, pairs of cooperating contact elements mounted on said body, one pair coacting with each of said elements, and means electrically connecting the respective contact elements of each pair.

7. In combination, a body comprising a duplex convenience outlet receptacle having pairs of receptacle contacts, pins of insulating 'material slidably mounted in said body one disposed in line with one of the contacts of each pair of contacts, pairs of cooperating contact elements mounted on said body, one pair coacting with each of said pins, and means electrically connecting the respective contact elements 01, each pair.

8, In combination, a body comprising a convenience outlet having receptacle contacts there- ELMER .1. zEL'r. 

